{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O82514"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82514/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF2728/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF2728/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF2728","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HP3900","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB7672","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O82514/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O82514","accessionNumber":"IM.62-1927","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Head of Buddha","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The expressive features of this face reflect the influence of the last phase of the Khmer style of Angkor, the Khmer capital. Throughout the 11th and 12th centuries, when Thailand formed part of the Khmer Empire, Lopburi was a chief seat of Khmer power. Cambodian influences continued to be felt there even after its political domination was broken early in the 13th century.","physicalDescription":"Head of the Buddha with a tiered cranial bump (<i>ushnisha</i>) suggesting a crown, a softly smiling mouth, and downcast eyes. Damaged at the ears and neck, it once belonged to a seated or standing image. The crown-like <i>ushnisha</i> and gentle modelling are typical of sculptures made around Lopburi in central Thailand in the 12th–13th centuries. This work reflects the emergence of a distinct Thai style at Lopburi, clearly influenced by Khmer art, especially the Bayon and the late 12th-century monuments at Angkor.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Sandstone","id":"AAT11376"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"AAT53618"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Buff coloured sandstone","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006BF2728","2015HP3900","2017KB7672"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47F","id":"THES49793"},"free":"","case":"PL4","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Head","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lopburi, Thailand","id":"THES271329"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"13th century","earliest":"1200-01-01","latest":"1300-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"40","unit":"cm","qualifier":"approx.","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"Head","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"19","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"21","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"52","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"With mount","note":"Height on modern mount"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This object was purchased by the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1927 from Mr E. G. Sebastian, D.S.O., C.B.E. (1892-1978). It was part of a collection of sculpture and pottery assembled by E.G. Sebastian during his years in Thailand (c.1922/1923-1927), where he initially served as a student interpreter in the British Far Eastern Consular Service, and was an active member of the Siam Society. The sandstone head was reportedly excavated at the site of \"Wat Mahathat\" in Lopburi, Thailand (which may refer to the temple site now known as Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat), in January 1924.\r\nSee Victoria & Albert Museum registered file MA/1/S1054.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Head of the Buddha, Sandstone, Lopburi, Thailand, 13th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Reginald Lemay. A Concise History of Buddhist Art in Siam (1938), pl. 84."}],"production":"Lopburi, Thailand.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[{"text":"Lopburi","id":"THES271329"}],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Head of the Buddha\r\n1200–1300\r\nLopburi, Thailand\r\nSandstone\r\nThe style of this serene face, with its full lips and\r\nalmost closed eyes, is based on the last phase of\r\nKhmer art, from the Khmer capital of Angkor in\r\nCambodia. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Thailand had\r\nbeen part of the Khmer empire, and Cambodian artistic\r\ninfluences remained important in the 13th century.\r\nMuseum no. IM.62-1927\r\n1200–1300","date":{"text":"1/4/2009","earliest":"2009-04-01","latest":"2009-04-01"}},{"text":"Head of the Buddha\r\n1200–1300\r\nThe style of this serene face with its full lips and almost\r\nclosed eyes is based on the last phase of Khmer art from\r\nthe Khmer capital of Angkor in Cambodia. In the 11th\r\nand 12th centuries, Thailand had been part of the Khmer\r\nempire. By the time this Buddha was created, Thailand had\r\nfreed itself from the Khmer, but Cambodian art remained\r\ninfluential.\r\nLopburi, Thailand\r\nSandstone\r\nMuseum no. IM.62-1927","date":{"text":"03/08/2015","earliest":"2015-08-03","latest":"2015-08-03"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.62-1927"],"accessionNumberNum":"62","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1927,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2016JR1736","2019LU4210"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-08","recordCreationDate":"2003-07-17","availableToBook":false}}